The Hyundai Santa Fe Cabin Air Filter Installation
 (US Version-2007+ Models)

Original idea: HMC
Author of Mod / Report: twospirits
Installers / Testers: Numerous Santa Fe Owners
Parts Supplier: Hyundai Motor Company
Images provided by: twospirits

Introduction / History

The Hyundai Santa Fe's that are sold outside the United States are equipped with a Pollen Cabin Air Filter that filters out any odors and particles leading to the fan/air conditioning unit ducts. This modification addresses this oversight by installing a genuine Hyundai or aftermarket air filter into the empty filter housing for US Models. The OEM filter is one that is made for the Hyundai Sonata but fits into the same housing of the Santa Fe. Performing this modification yourself will save you the cost if US Dealerships were to do it.

　

Disclaimer

  Please Read the disclaimer before proceeding

Difficulty level / scale: On a scale of 1 - 10

Easy   Difficult
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  X                

Tools and materials needed:

Needle Nose Pliers
Electrical Tape
Hyundai Santa Fe cabin air filter

Time to install item:

Total time for mod: 10-15 min  

Source, item and packaging

　 The Cabin Air Filter needed for this modification is a genuine Hyundai OEM part made for the Hyundai Sonata.

The part number for the Cabin Air Filter is as follows...
Part # 08790-3K000A fits all 2007 and later Santa Fe's.

These filters can be obtained at any Hyundai dealership, even cheaper if purchased online.

Note: This filter is listed for the Hyundai Sonata within the Hyundai Parts database, but can be also used on the Hyundai Santa Fe, Sonata, Azera as well as the Kia.Optima/Magenta/Lotze.
     
  The filter is enclosed in a plastic bag with an instruction sheet on how to install it.
     
  This instruction sheet is very limited in its detail and basically useless for a Santa Fe install. It was clearly made for a Sonata install.

Step 1: Accessing the Cabin Air Filter Housing

　 The Cabin Air Filter housing is located behind the Glove Box. The Glove Box needs to be temporarily detached to gain access to the cabin air filter housing.
　
　
　 Open the front passenger door all the way and empty out anything within it. 

　
　
　 The glove box is held by two glider clips and a cable holder. To the right of the glove box side molding is the cable holding which holds the glove box from going down too far.
　
　 First, you will need to detach the cable from the glove box.

Using a needle nose pliers gently squeeze the moldings anchor tip together so the cable can be pushed outward.

Note: it is best if the pliers are wrapped with electrical tape so the pliers grooves do not scar the molding.
　
　 Next, you will need to take the glove box off its gliders.

Gently push the inner part of the glove box (glide clips) toward each other and the glove box should detach from the dashboard.
　
　 After the cable and the glide clips have been removed, the glove box should drop down and provide you will better access to the filter housing.
　
　

With the glove box fully extended and out of the way, you can see the 4 clips that attach the filter housing to the blower unit.

　
　

Step 2: Remove existing filter

　
You will need to squeeze the 4 clips toward each other and then towards you in order to remove the filter.

CAUTION:

DO NOT pull on the clips toward you only, or you will break them off. (I learned the hard way and now only have two (left side) clips holding the filter housing since I broke them off).

　
　 　 　

　		 　 This is the look of my filter housing with the broken clips by not following step two above correctly.
　

　 This is the look of my filter in its housing after taking it out.

Just remove the old filter from its housing.

Note:
According to Hyundai's' own standards the filter should be replaced every 15,000 miles or once a year, but this filter has been in the car for about 13-14 months, and has gone through both a NYC hot humid summer and freezing winter. I would probably start changing the filter every 6 months from now on.
　
　

Step 4: Comparing filters

　 Comparing the old one against the new one is like night and day.

Yuck.
　 　 　

Step 4: Attaching the new Cabin Air Filter.

　 This picture shows the filter cover housing with the filter in it.
　
　 Take your new filter and inserted into the housing. The best way is to squeeze the filter in the middle and it enters the housing without getting obstructed from the housings clips.
　

Step 5: Reinstall all parts.

　
Re-insert the filter housing back into the blower unit making sure you hear the clips snap back into place.

　
　 　 　
　 Re-attach the glove box cable to the glove box.
　
　 Re-attach the glove box clips onto the gliders.
　

Warranty notes:

Most US Dealerships will replace the cabin air filter for Santa Fe 2007 and + models, since they are now included with the vehicle. Previous ones do not.
Enjoy your fresh cabin air.

Additional notes and Part Numbers: 

MY = model year

Santa Fe
2001 - 2003 MY: 97619-38100 (before March 29th, 2003)
2003 - 2006 MY: 97619-3D000 (after March 29th, 2003)
2007 - present  : 08790-3K000A

This site was last updated 03/08/08